Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants

quote:The most recent data on SNAP participation were released Friday, and showed that 47,710,324 people were enrolled in the program in September, an increase of 607,559 from the 47,102,765 enrolled in August.

The number of households enrolled in the program also increased from 22,684,463 in August to 22,973,698 in September, an increase of 289,235. The average benefit, according to the new data, was $134.29 per person and $278.89 per household.

Texas, California, and Florida were the states with the most recipients, the Agriculture Department reported.

The new numbers mean that an estimated one in 6.5 people in America were on food stamps in September.

In the 1970s, one out of every 50 Americans was on food stamps. Since 2001, spending on the program has quadrupled and doubled in the last four years.

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 12:42 pm to mograyback)

Oh, how about the woman in line at WalMart buying baby formula (boxes of the stuff) then adds 2 fifths of Vodka to the ticket. Of course the purchase will not go through but she thinks there is not enough on the card, So she pulls out 2 more food stamp cards - the purchase still will not go through. She take the liquor off the ticket and BINGO sale complete. Who wooda thought?

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 1:16 pm to taylormade)

quote:I wonder how many steak & shrimp dinners are consumed every night on our dime..

while driving an Escalade with 40" rims to get it,

All while I drive a Used 10 yr old Honda...

Hey man, the system is in place. If all you want in life is a nice car and food, then the opportunity is there. Quit your job and find one making below the poverty level according to your number of children, and you too can be living the dream.

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 1:17 pm to BugAC)

I don't mind food stamps because they feed children that might not otherwise eat and that have no ability to fend for themselves.

That being said, I am for big nutritional reform. I am for limiting the types of foods that can be purchased.

I would be a proponent of elimination of food stamps and establishment of food repositories in which you have to economically qualify to use and which have food stocks that are by-in-large only composed of nutricious foods and meals. In other words, very few sweets, no soft drinks, meats that are lower in fat content, etc.

If the government is going to pay for you food and your healthcare, the government gets to assist in preventative care, such as diet.

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 1:26 pm to DeltaDoc)

quote: I would be a proponent of elimination of food stamps and establishment of food repositories in which you have to economically qualify to use and which have food stocks that are by-in-large only composed of nutricious foods and meals.

Sounds like a great idea in theory, but what about all of the store chains and locally owned grocers that accept foodstamps? Wouldn't they and the people whom they employ suffer as a result?

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 1:31 pm to BugAC)

quote:So in your opinion, having 1 in 6.5 people in the US on food stamps is equivalent to a tigerdroppings poster?

I'll wait for you to explain it.

And you're going to keep on waitin', because what you said makes no sense.

Was making a point that we are divided and conquered. Did I say the rant? Or did I just say people? I said people. Our society is divided. We focus in on things like food stamps or war or whatever, it depends on which side of the fence we sit. The crime is we don't see the bigger picture.

re: Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants (Posted on 12/10/12 at 1:31 pm to mograyback)

Last week I was at Wal-Mart late at night and there was only one check out open, and in front of me was a family of about 15 mexicans who were buying a bunch of stuff with their food stamp card, problem was that they had a lot of beer, junk food and other crap in their cart. With their 13 kids running all over the place it was annoying, and then the parents bought them all baby bottle pops, put on the food stamp card or welfare card, whatever it was.

Then as they left, I watched 14 of them pile into a minivan, and the dad get into a Chevy Tahoe with giant tires and gold rims.